For those who don’t know the event: FMX is organised by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and focuses on animation, VFX, games and immersive media, combining talks, workshops, screenings and recruitment under one roof in Stuttgart.

FMX has opened its ticket shop for the upcoming on-site and online event in Stuttgart. Early bird tickets are available until March 20. The conference runs on site from May 5 to 7, followed by an online programme on May 8 and on-demand access from May 9 to June 9.

Available ticket categories include Conference, Business, Combi, Day, Experience, Online and Press passes. Reduced pricing is offered for students, trainees, pensioners and people with disabilities. Student groups can apply for additional discounts. Pricing details are listed directly in the FMX ticket shop.

FMX 2025 Ticket Prices (Early Bird / Regular)
Conference Pass: Professionals ~ 370 / 410 € · Students ~ 185 / 205 €
Business Pass: ~ 470 / 510 €
Combi Pass (includes ITFS): Professionals ~ 410 / 450 € · Students ~ 205 / 225 €
Day Pass: Professionals ~ 185 / 205 € · Students ~ 92.50 / 102.50 €
Experience Pass: Professionals ~ 60 € · Students ~ 30 €
Online Pass: Professionals ~ 90 € · Students ~ 45 €

Get an overview of what’s included in each one here at FMX Ticket Options

All on-site passes include access to the new On Campus programme on May 8, hosted at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. The sessions focus on talent development and education and are primarily curated by the Animationsinstitut.

Collaboration takes centre stage

The Power of Collaboration category remains a visible part of the programme, with sessions grouped under Managing Change and Community and Inclusion.

Kader Bagli from RISE | Visual Effects Studios has been confirmed to give a talk titled “Resilience as a Collective System.” The session addresses resilience as a structural and cultural issue rather than an individual responsibility, focusing on leadership, empathy and human-centred workflows in VFX production environments. This session is part of the Community and Inclusion track.

Kate Menz from Women in Animation will present a session on the organisation’s Global Mentorship Program. The talk discusses mentorship as a mechanism for skills transfer, confidence-building, and access to professional networks across animation, VFX, and games. The session sits within the Managing Change track and is curated by Imke Fehrmann.

Returning FMX regulars

FMX also confirms the return of long-standing contributors. Ed Hooks will once again teach Acting for Animators, a workshop based on his long-running training methodology for animation and game professionals. Hooks’ book Acting for Animators was published in a revised fourth edition by Routledge in 2025 and is widely used in animation education.

Shelley Page of Locksmith Animation returns with Shelley’s Eye Candy, a curated screening of recent short films and graduation projects discovered over the past year. The session traditionally focuses on character-driven animation and contemporary visual storytelling.

Industry research under the microscope

A new PANEURAMA survey is currently collecting data on the state of the creative industries, with a focus on animation, VFX, virtual production and games. The EU-wide survey is conducted by Breda University of Applied Sciences as part of the PANEURAMA Innovation Alliance.

The research examines technological trends, skills transfer between industries and how education aligns with professional requirements. Results will be presented and discussed at FMX 2026, including fishbowl discussions hosted during the conference. Silke Haßreiter from Breda University will present the findings publicly for the first time.

Participating institutions include The Animation Workshop at VIA University College, Université Paris 8 and Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, alongside industry partners such as Fortiche Production, Qvisten Animation, DIGIC Pictures and RISE FX.

Animation Production Days deadline

The Animation Production Days co-production market will close project submissions on February 4. The event focuses on animation projects in concept or development stages with international co-production potential. Selected projects are scheduled for one-to-one meetings with potential partners and financiers.

FMX
https://fmx.de

PANEURAMA Innovation Alliance and survey
https://paneurama.eu

Animation Production Days submission information
https://animationproductiondays.de

The post FMX opens ticket shop and confirms collaboration track talks first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

For those who don’t know the event: FMX is Europe’s long-running conference for animation, visual effects, interactive media, games and basically the same topics as Digital Production. It takes place every spring in Stuttgart and online as part of Stuttgart Animated Week. The event is organised by the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and runs alongside the Animation Production Days (APD) market and the International Festival of Animated Film Stuttgart. FMX combines technical talks, case studies, workshops, exhibitions and a marketplace for tools and services. Attendance spans creative professionals, technologists and students.

Early Programme Highlights Confirmed

FMX 2026, themed THE ROAD AHEAD, has confirmed the first sessions focusing on visual effects practice and the impact of artificial intelligence on creative workflows. One confirmed session from Pixomondo VFX Supervisor Max Riess will detail the transformation of human actors into animal characters for the feature Woodwalkers 2, covering on-set supervision, digital blend techniques and rendering strategies used to create authentic animal performances. This is one of the first concrete case studies announced ahead of the conference.

Another confirmed talk will feature Dr Aaron Hertzmann from Adobe Research discussing whether AI algorithms can be considered artists, grounded in parallels to historical art technologies. He argues that while generative AI tools reshape production and the understanding of art, they are unlikely to be recognised as artists themselves in the near term.

Larry Cutler, CTO of Baobab Studios, is scheduled to share industry-wide patterns in reactions to “job-killing” technologies, drawing from his experience with AI-driven character systems. These early confirmations suggest FMX 2026 will combine production insight with reflective debate on emergent technologies.

FMX Forum and Partner Participation

In addition to conference talks, the FMX Forum is open for bookings and planned to include workshops, a marketplace for tools and technologies, recruiting hubs, and university showcases. Partners already confirmed include Abstract, CG Wire, RnDeep and VFX PICK for the marketplace; Artineering and Prism Pipeline for workshop slots; Chaos in the company suite; and several studios and educational institutions in the recruiting and campus spaces. These components aim to give attendees direct access to tools, technology and talent pipelines.

Animation Production Days: Submit by February

The Animation Production Days (APD 2026), the business and co-production market that runs from 5–7 May in Stuttgart as part of Stuttgart Animated Week, has opened submissions for animation projects. APD is the key co-production and financing platform in Germany for feature films, TV series, mobile content, games, cross-media and virtual reality projects, bringing producers into curated one-to-one meetings with broadcasters, streamers, distributors and financing partners. Projects should be in concept or development and demonstrate international co-production potential. Up to 50 projects will be selected and showcased at the event. Project entries are accepted until 4 February 2026.

APD also offers a Talent Programme for emerging European producers and creator teams, providing free accreditation and festival access to selected teams, including accommodation support.

Notes for Production Artists
Attendees and presenters should verify final session details when the full FMX programme is published, as early confirmations may be updated with additional technical specifics closer to the event dates. And there is always a boiit of shift.

P.S: This is your reminder: Book hotels well in advance, or you have to stay somewhere in the Swabian mountains. There be dragons!

The post FMX 2026: First Talks Confirmed and APD Project Submissions Open first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.

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The 19th Animation Production Days (APDs) are set to take place from May 6 to 8, 2025, in Stuttgart, offering Europe’s animation professionals a critical platform to pitch, connect, and innovate. As part of a joint venture between FMX – Film & Media Exchange and the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS), APDs serve as the premier co-production and financing market for the European animation sector.

Filmmakers, producers, and creators from across Europe will meet with potential partners, including broadcasters, distributors, and financiers. The event also features networking opportunities and discussions on the latest industry trends, providing a solid foundation for strategic alliances.

How to Submit Projects

Producers can submit projects across various categories: film, TV series, mobile content, games, cross- and transmedia, and VR. Submissions must be made by February 4, 2025, with the option for early bird discounts available for entries submitted by January 17, 2025. Early submissions benefit from reduced accreditation fees, making it a cost-effective choice for participants. Detailed submission guidelines can be found on the APDs registration page.

Selected projects will be presented in pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings, offering creators direct access to potential partners from streaming platforms, distributors, and funding bodies.

Opportunities for Emerging Talent

The Talent Programme invites applications from up-and-coming European producers and creator teams (up to two members per project) with promising animation concepts. Up to eight projects will be chosen to receive free accreditation for APDs, as well as tickets to FMX and ITFS. Accommodation costs are covered, with the goal of helping young professionals connect with industry experts and gain entry to the European market. Details can be found on the Talent Programme page.

Investor and Co-Producer Programmes

The Investor Programme caters to broadcasters, streamers, distributors, and funding representatives seeking fresh content. The Co-Producer Programme targets production companies and studios aiming to collaborate as co-producers or service providers. Both programs offer early bird rates until January 17, 2025. Visit the Investor Programme page or the Co-Producer Programme page for details.

Part of Stuttgart Animated Week

APDs are a cornerstone of Stuttgart Animated Week, which also includes FMX and ITFS. Together, these events draw up to 6,000 industry professionals annually, creating a hub for shaping the future of animation.

For more details, visit the Animation Production Days official website.

The post Submit Projects Now for Animation Production Days 2025 first appeared on DIGITAL PRODUCTION and was written by Bela Beier.